Benefit from these essential top 5 products!

I love budget brands, but just recently I have treated myself to some higher end cosmetics and have found some products from Benefit that I just can’t live without.  These products are well worth checking out if you have some money to spare – they have become a vital part of my daily beauty routine and a lot of them deliver amazing results and have turned out to be well worth the price!  My one piece of Benefit advice though – don’t buy from eBay.  I am sure that there are genuine sellers out there, but for every genuine seller there are at least 10 fakes and you just never know what you might get.  The worst I had was a Get Even! That brought me out in a rash. On my face.  It wasn’t pleasant!  So buy online or in store wherever possible – but also look out for minis, mini-sets and offers as you can often get a hold of 8-10ml trial sizes so that you can try and see if a product is for you!

So, without further ado...here are my top 5 miracle Benefit products:

1.  The POREfessional

Here's my review from the website, which pretty much says it all.  This is the perfect smoothing, silky base.  Makes my blackheads vanish.

I have combination skin which unfortunately includes blackheads on my nose and enlarged pores at the side of my nose. This product makes the pores seemingly close and vanish and when finished with some concealer/foundation and powder, you can't see the blackheads at all. I know this product only masks them, but that's fine by me!! The minute I get blackheads out they come back anyway so I need coverage and this product delivers. It makes the rest of my skin feel silky but matte and my BB cream goes on top nicely, creating a flawless finish. Highly recommended for problem/combination skin, even mature skin (I'm 38).

 2. Boi-ing - Industrial Strength concealer

This product is AMAZING.  Easily the best concealer I have ever used.  Creamy and blendable it gives complete coverage without being heavy or greasy and it stays put and last all day long. It tackles dark cicles quite well and isn't cakey; it also doesn't sit in lines of creases around the eye area. I recently caught pregnant and my skin broke out and was completely unmanageable - then I remembered my confessions of a concealaholic kit and used the concealer inside.  It turned out to be Boi-ing in shade 1 and it was so good I bought the full size and will never regret doing so! Speaking of confessions of a concealaholic, this kit is a great way to try Boi-ing, Erase Paste, That Gal, lemon aid and eye bright for £28.50.  Bought singly, the products would cost £74.00!

3. They're real! Mascara
This one, I am not going to bash on about.  I am just going to say - this is the best mascara in the world, the best I have ever used and is the UKs No. 1 best-selling mascara.  Try it!  They have a special offer on now - buy the anniversary set for the same price as a regular mascara and you get a free travel size mascara.  I have mine in my handbag right now!

4. Foamingly clean facial wash

This is so lovely.  It smells wonderful and removes every trace of make-up and dirt without having to rub and scrub. My skin feels so clean and so refreshed after using this; no tightness or irritation and a little lathers beautifully and goes a long way. Not sure? Try the b.right! mini intro skin kit - a snip at £10.00! 

5. Sugarbomb Ultra plush

What a gorgeous lip gloss! Benefit have recent introduced lip glosses to complement their box powders and Sugarbomb is the prettiest gloss I've seen and worn in ages.  It makes my lips feel really soft and as with all Benefit products, it smells lovely and a little goes a long way!

Why not check out the boxed powder range here? Also worth checking out are the beauty kits packed full of minis that you can try for a fraction of the regular price before deciding whether to invest in a full sized product.  There's lots to choose from!

Aren't they gorgeous?? If I could, I'd get them all! All under £30 - these kits are such a good idea, plus if you are going away overnight or on a weekender, these are all you need. Get these beauties on your Christmas list!

 

BB Creams...do they work?

I love it when a new beauty phenomenon hits the shelves and I always have to try whatever it is.  When I started reading about BB creams, I knew I had to get hold of one and give it a try.  BB means 'Blemish Balm' but it isn't necessarily for problem skin. As explained:

" The multi-tasking cream has amazing all-in-one properties — moisturizer, primer, foundation, concealer, skin treatment and sunblock."

Could it really be that simple? No need for separate moisturiser, face primer, foundation, concealer and an SPF in the Summer? I love my routine - That Gal make up base (or ELF alternative), foundation, concealer, powder.....it doesn't seem right to be using just one thing.  In fact, the first time I used my Garnier Miracle BB cream - I didn't like it.

Maybe I didn't apply it correctly the first time, or I was just determined to stick with my tried and tested routine. Anyway, I found the tube a few weeks later and gave it another shot after seeing this:

My skin was a little upset after 'that' time of month and I needed a little something extra, but my skin was too sensitive to clog up with layers of moisturiser, base, foundation...so I tried this again and now I am utterly hooked.  IT WORKS.  The coverage is fantastic and you don't get the feeling you're wearing much at all. It's so much more than a foundation, it seems to sink into your skin so well, but makes you look fantastically flaweless and luminous.  It's skin care, but more than just a tinted lotion.  I can't put my finger on any one thing because BB cream is so many things and does so many jobs.  My skin improved straight away, a work colleague told me I was 'glowing' on one particular day! To say I am glad I gave this product another chance is an understatement.

If you haven't already, try it. You won't be sorry!

ELF Studio Matte Lip Colour Review! NEW for July 2011

The unique selling points of Elf’s Studio Matte Lip Colour  (£3.50 each) are:

The format

It’s a jumbo size stick – similar to Clinique’s chubby sticks,  but at a fraction of the price.

The Finish
It offers this season’s coveted matte finish – and actually delivers.

The Hype

All of the UK ELF fan base have been waiting for these beauties ever since they appeared on the US site.  Out of everything that the Americans get first, these are what I wanted to get my hands on the most. So, when ELF got their new delivery in, I ordered 2 of these beauties; Natural and Tea Rose. Both are gorgeous pinks, the Natural very suitable for day wear in the office, the Tea Rose suitable for the same, as well as being a very versatile colour that would cross over easily into evening wear/going out colours.

What the product delivers

I am insanely happy with this product.  I wish I had ordered all 4 colours and I hope that ELF release more!  First, you won't need a separate lip liner -trust me, and save your pennies.  This product does not feather, bleed or smudge. Use the pointed tip to draw your line and then fill in with the edge of the pencil.  You don't need a lot and it glides on smoothly, evenly and bursting with beautiful pigmented colour.  And then is stays put - all day long.  I really wasn't expecting the staying power that this product delivers, and I would even say once it's on, you will need something more than just a tissue to get it off!

It doesn't dry your lips, it's so smooth and natural you will easily forget you're wearing it (but if you do happen to lick your lips it tastes good!), it contains vitamins A, C & E so actually cares for your lips whilst on.  Yet again, ELF get it spot on with their value for money products. For £3.50 it's hard to go wrong.  Please note, the product turned out to be a lot bigger than I expected too - bonus! If I was scoring this product it would definitely be a 10.

Free Mascara worth £13 - just pay £2.50 P&P

Vie at home are giving away one of their gorgeous Dream lashes Mascara worth £13/€16.25 for FREE, you just pay P&P (£2.50).  Totally legitimate offer (for a magazine, Woman's own I think?!), I just ordered mine, although had to get Brown/Black as Black is sold out.

Click THIS LINK to go to the offer page and make sure DREAM is in the promotional code section, although once you click the link it does tell you you've qualified for the offer. Go, quick! Before they sell out completely :)  Enjoy!

ELF Swatch Post - Mixed Bag!

 Just thought I'd post a few swatches, a mixed bag really....but to show off some of the lipwear options along with what the transformer palette can do.

Lip swatches - with flash

 

Lip Swatches without flash

Left to right we have ELF value range lipsticks in shades Classy and Seductive. In the middle is ELF Mineral Lipstick in Royal Red, followed by Mineral Lip Gloss in Pageant Princess, lastly there is the ELF Value range Liquid lipstick in Strawberry. These are some of my favourite products and are all gorgeous on.  The Classy & Strawberry are my current favourites.....although I'm waiting for my 75p lip glosses to arrive. Don't you love ELF special offers?!


Elf, glorious Elf :)

Next up, is the Drama quad from the value range.

I've chosen to swatch this one as the Studio eye transformer works better on dark colours, although the colours are so pretty you can also wear them alone. I especially love the lilac shade.


Drama, without flash



Drama, with Flash

Okay so the colours in drama are white, mid grey, dark grey and light grey.  I applied the Pink colour from the eye transformer onto the mid grey (second from left), I applied the lilac shade onto the dark grey and then the green onto the light grey.  The light grey wasn't a very full colour to begin with and the Eye Transformer didn't really add anything new.  Even the mid grey was that amazing.  But the lilac on the dark grey just looks gorgeous. I wish the lilac was available in a large shade on its own; I use it by itself and with other colours....it's the shade in the palette I go for every time.  Anyway, here's the results.  

Drama shades with transformer palette (without flash)




Drama shades with Transformer palette (with flash)


The colour options are endless once you have this palette. I'm going to try this with some even darker colours at some point and I'll post the swatches.  In the meantime, THIS awesome blog has some great swatches.

Shimmer Palette Vs. Shimmering Facial whips?

No contest, in my opinion. I've yet to have a little tube of shimmery goodness that didn't go runny, separate in the tube or gush out in a useless rush of what seemed to be 'gone off' cosmetics.  The Studio Shimmer Palette on the other hand, is gorgeous.  4 colours for £3.50 - bargain.  4 tubes would set you back £6.00 and won't last as well or be as user friendly.
I've swatched the shimmer palette so you can see what shades you get and how they come out:


With flash

 


Without flash in natual daylight


The colours are a gorgeous white that is lovely for highlighting the eyes below the brow bone, 2 beigey/pinkish tones and then a very pretty pink on the end, which I have used on eyes, cheeks, lips.  I do recommend the palette - wouldn't recommend the facial whips!



You know the drill....where beauty meets value ;)





 

Nice & Natural - total look for £10.50

How to get everything you need for an everyday 'barely there' makeup look for just £10.50

We all like to look as though we just rolled out of bed already looking polished and naturally fresh.  We all know though, that it takes a while in front of the mirror assisted by cosmetics, tools, and tricks to look as though we haven't made any effort at all and as though we're not even wearing any makeup! To achieve this look, you're going to need base, blush, powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss. You may not believe that you can get all this for £10.50 but you really can and trust me - it's easy!

Base/foundation/concealer - £1.50

This stick isn't named 'all-over' for nothing! Use it as a foundation, dab it under your eyes and on spots as a concealer (for even more coverage!) and swipe over your eyelid with a fingertip to use as a base ready for your eye shadow. This smells gorgeous, has a great consistency, isn't heavy and won't clog pores.

Blush - £1.50

Experience sheer radiance that makes your cheeks glow and keeps you looking all natural! These cute little compacts helps smooth the skin and minimize pores, while highlighting and sculpting to make the most of your facial features. The shades are so sweet and pretty and can also double as eye shadow (saving you even more money!).

Powder - £1.50

Oil absorbing, clarifying, and packed full of ingredients that help prevent skin imperfections, this cute compact comes with a powder puff ready to use.  Choose the correct shade and this powder will give you a matte, natural finish and take away any shine and keep it at bay all day!

Eyeshadow - £1.50

This eyeshadow quad, shown in 'Ethereal', contains the perfect neutral shades for your look.  Made from Corn Silk, it glides on and helps your skin feels smooth and silky.  It's long lasting and won't crease.  Perfect for everyday wear and to widen, brighten and compliment your eyes.

Eyeliner & mascara - 1.50 each

Brightening eye liner

Earth & water mascara duo

Both long lasting, smear proof and great quality, these basic staples are just what you need to dress your eyes and add the finishing touches. Select the mascara in Brown and the eyeliner in Coffee to keep the look nice and neutral.  It's a good alternative to black and keeps the looks soft and natural.

Lip Gloss - £1.50

The final step in your natural makeup routine! There are so many neutral shades available but Strawberry (left) is subtle, pretty and perfect for Summer. Lucious liquid lipstick in vanilla mint scent....another beauty bargain.

Believe it or not, there's a way to make this look even more budget friendly by replacing the blush, eyeshadow and lip gloss with an all over colour stick, perhaps in 'toasted' as shown below. These 3 in 1 sticks have been specially designed to work on your eyes, lips and face. They condition, soothe and freshen the skin and keep your look natural and healthy.  You'll glow from the inside as well as the outside while you smile about all the money you saved!

I'd love to hear from you! What's your favourite product for keeping your look natural and fresh?  What tips and hints do you have so that all your lumps, bumps, tired eyes and tired skin are concealed while all the time people wonder if you even have any makeup on....?

Leave me a comment! I love to talk makeup.

E.L.F. (Eyes, Lips, face), Top 5 Studio Must have Products

LUXURY....ON A BUDGET
The E.L.F. Studio Line offers a wider choice of products when compared to the basic range, and this is reflected in the price.  Having said that, the Studio Range is still far cheaper than make up counter store brands such as Rimmell, Maybelline, Revlon, etc.  For a quick comparison:

SPLURGE
Maybelline long lasting gel liner - £7.99

SAVE
Elf Studio Cream eyeliner - £3.50

The Studio line offers genuinely innovative products that I certainly have never seen before, nor anywhere else.  In this raneg you'll find eye transformer palettes that change the shade of your eyeshadow, corrective concealer palette with a shade for every skin, not to mention everything you need to store and treat your make up brushes. The range is massive, and I love it all but I have managed to narrow it down to just my 5 top products.

1. Studio High Definition Powder - £6.00

I like to call this one the 'miracle powder'. It's white so you aren't going to wind up looking orange after having selected the wrong shade...! You also won't end up looking like a ghost as the powder is sheer, invisible but all the while giving a soft focus effect....and hiding/smoothing fine lines and imperfections. This product is just like amazingingly  flattering lighting in a jar! 

2. Studio Blush - £3.50

Available in 9 gorgeous flattering shades, these blushes are versatile, highly pigmented, and amazing value. However, be warned - a little goes a long, long way! The first time I used my 'pink passion' (shown left), I looked like I'd had an accident with a makeup counter. So, use this sparingly for lovely colour that highlights and flatters the cheeks. The 'Gotta Glow' shade works a lot like Benefit High Beam - use anywhere on the face to highlight...but save around £18 by using this product instead!







3. Studio Lip Conditioning Balm - £3.50

These balms are one of the newer additions to the Elf Studio range. They're already popular! Available in lovely, summery shades, these balms are suitable for every day wear, complete with SPF15 to protect your lips. This product isn't sticky and goes on smoothly and softens your lips. 'Nicely Natural' is a great neutral shade, while 'Mellow Mellon' is a gorgeous  Summer pink. Expect vibrant colour pay off!




4. Studio Mineral infused Face Primer - £6.00

I do agree with some other comments I have read about the packaging for this product and have to say - it stinks. Harsh but true! I almost always have trouble with the pump and have to resort to unscrewing it and scraping the product out, hardly ideal. However, once you get this product on your skin, be prepared for smooth, fresh, soft skin that is silky to the touch and enables make up to slide on flawlessly.  Expect a matte finish that lasts and skin that feels great all day.  The primer makes it into my top 5 - the packaging doesn't.  Also, since you can't rely on the pump to get it all out, it'd be nice to see how much is left.  Change the packaging Elf! Comparable to what I used to use which is Philosophy 'The Present' and Benefit 'Dr Feelgood' - this works just as well, it just doesn't look as good.  But once again, budget triumphs over high-end cosmetics.








5. Studio Matte Eyeshadow - £3.50

 At last! An eyeshadow that has great pigmentation, fantastic, fresh colours and no sparkly glitter that gets into your eyes! These shadows are so nice, they stay all day and don't smudge or crease so are kinder for mature skin, although I they'd suit anyone.  My current favourite shade is mint (as shown), but I'm eager to try more and only hope Elf bring out a blue shade. Comes complete with a very decent brush and wears well even without a primer.




Coming in just outside of my top 5 were these other great products : Eye Transformer, the amazing Corrective concealer palette, the multi functional Shimmer palette and the ingenious lip lock pencil. I also feel that I have to mention the fantastic range of brushes and the fact that Elf not only realises we want great brushes but somewhere to store them and great ways to clean them.

I would LOVE to hear from you! What are your top 5 products? Or the one Elf product you just can't live without?

My current top 5 E.L.F. must-haves

E.L.F. (Eyes, Lips, Face) UK

Beauty on a budget has never been so much fun - or so accessible - since the arrival of ELF.  Prices range from £1.50 and the range of products available is outstanding, both in terms of value for money and the options of products and shades available.  The Studio line and Minerals lines are a bit more pricey (starting at around £3), but this is reflected in the packaging, larger sizes and extras that come with some products.

So I have put together my top 5 items from each range.  These are products that I re-order as soon as I open a new one, products that I am never without and products that I would hesitate to recommend. Part one begins with....

THE BASIC £1.50 RANGE

1. All Over Cover Stick - £1.50

These are completely indispensable, both as a foundation and an eyelid primer.  These shade sticks don't tug the skin, they blend well, have great skin colour match tones and even small great - Sugar Orange fragrance, although the latest added colours are fragrance free (even better for sensitive skins).  The best part? They last ages. I have about 5 or 6 of these lying around....I never intend to run out!

2. Clarifying Pressed Powder - £1.50

 

Available in a shade to suit just about every tone, these powders come with a powder puff and a surprisingly durable case.  Sugar orange scent again, this oil absorbing powder does actually keep the shine at bay and don't irritate my sensitive skin.  It does contain parabens so if this sets your skin off, try the Mineral Booster powder which is Paraben free. This little powder though, is a make up bag staple for me, especially when on the go. At £1.50 each you can afford more than one!

3. Brightening eye colour - £1.50

These eyeshadow quads come in a fantastic, funky, classic, sophisticated, glamorous, sultry and varied range of colours and are decently pigmented for the price.  Complete with an applicator (although at £1.50 for an eyeshadow brush, why not get professional tools of the trade, as the little applicator is fiddly?), it's simple to create a look for any occasion, in any colour.

4. Super Glossy Lip Shine - £1.50

I have one of each of these in the shades Angel (clear), Goddess (every day pink), Malt Shake (gorgeous mid-pink), Juice Berry (a lovely sheer berry/pink shade), and it still doesn't stop me wanting to order all the other shades too!

All but the 2 new shades (Honey Do & Juiced Berry) are Grape Vanilla scented, and without exception, all the glosses look so pretty on.  They don't dry my lips out....they are a little bit sticky but not too bad - I have used a Clinique lip gloss that's stickier! They're still very wearable and last quite a while.

The bottom line is that these glosses are gorgeous on and I want them all.  Once you try them, you will too.  ELF often have promotions on where one of these glosses come as a free gift on purchases over £10.00.

5. Shimmer Eye Liner Pencil - Guess what? Yes, £1.50!

I have this pencil in 4 shades - Gunmetal, Black Bandit, TwinkleTeal and Blissful Blush, and they are all gorgeous.  Creamy, non-smudging and long lasting, these pencils are fantastic for staying put on long nights out, without you getting home to discover that in fact, you've had panda eyes all night. These pencils (like most ELF pencils), come with a sharpener in the lid and unlike some pencils, they don't fall to bits when you actually do sharpen them. Avon pencils are dreadful for falling apart when you try to sharpen them up; I've had pencils where the product keeps falling out and breaking. I've never had an ELF pencil that does that - these are great value for money.





So that's it - my big top 5. The rest of the range is just as wearable, has just as much selection and as well as the Eyes, Lips, Face and Nails section, be sure to check out the brushes and tools.....did I mention that these products are all £1.50 each?

Elf run lots of promotions.  Free shipping, 20% off the entire site, free products, and occasionally, they offer products at £1 each.  Be sure to change the ELF Facebook group and read the upcoming promotions in the Notes section.  You can get so much for your money, so put together your first order today....you won't be sorry!

Top 5 Studio & Mineral blogs to follow!

www.eyeslipsface.co.uk

Leave a comment - tell my your top 5 ELF products!